| dc.description.abstract | I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WELCOME YOU
ALL TO THE THIRD ANNUAL KABARAK
UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE. I’M
GLAD THAT THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR’S
CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON APPLIED RESEARCH
AND INNOVATION. THIS IS OF GREAT NEED FOR
AFRICA AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES TODAY.
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TIME HAS COME FOR AFRICA TO TAKE THE LEAD
IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION.
AFRICAN CONTINENT MUST SHIFT ITS FOCUS
FROM BASIC TO APPLIED RESEARCH IF IT IS TO
TRANSFORM FROM POVERTY TO PROSPERITY.
AFRICA IS LAGGING BEHIND OTHER CONTINENTS
IN INNOVATION BECAUSE OF OVEREMPHASIS ON
BASIC RESEARCH CONDUCTED SOLELY FOR
INFORMATION GATHERING AND BUILDING ON
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EXISTING KNOWLEDGE INSTEAD OF APPLIED
RESEARCH, WHICH IS GEARED TOWARDS THE
RESOLUTION OF A PARTICULAR QUESTION OR
PROBLEM. THIS CONTINENT DOES NOT NEED
RESEARCH TO LEARN ABOUT HOW SOMETHING
WORKS, WE NEED STUDIES INTO THE ORIGINS OF
THE PROBLEMS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
REALISTIC SOLUTIONS. AFRICAN NATIONS NEED
INNOVATIVE POLICIES AND INSTITUTIONS THAT
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ARE RELEVANT, INCLUDING TECHNOLOGICAL
CAPABILITY, TECHNICAL PROGRESS AND
COMMITMENT TO INNOVATION.
A SPIRIT OF INFORMATION-SHARING AMONG
NATIONS AND NATIONAL AGENCIES IS ALSO
LACKING, WHICH COULD INFLUENCE
INNOVATIVE BEHAVIOUR AND PERFORMANCE.
I’M GLAD THAT A RESEARCH CONFERENCE LIKE
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THIS PROVIDES A PLATFORM FOR INFORMATION
SHARING AND NETWORKING AMONG SCHOLARS
AND RESEARCHERS.
I WOULD LIKE TO CALL UPON THE PRIVATE AND
THE GOVERNMENT SECTORS TO WORK
TOGETHER WITH UNIVERSITIES AND TAKE A
LEAD IN APPLIED RESEARCH WITH EMPHASIS IN
INNOVATION.
I’M IMPRESSED BY THE LARGE TURN OUT OF
RESEARCHERS AND PARTICIPANTS IN THIS
YEARS CONFERENCE. KENYA AND AFRICA AND
INDEED THE WORLD IS COUNTING ON YOU. MY
ADVICE TO YOU ALL IS MAKE RESEARCH PART
OF YOUR LIFE.
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